‘Too close’ house row mum sued by builder for £75,000
Resident refuses to back down in bitter property row
A MUM who hit out after a house was built so close to hers she could chap her neighbour’s door from her window is now being sued for £75,000.
Mum-of-seven Niki Caira, of Thornton, Fife, told how she was horrified when she discovered just how close the luxury homes were.
The 39-year-old said she couldn’t understand why Fife Council agreed to allow KJJ Properties and businessman Alex Penman to build the two £350,000 new homes, despite objections and “serious” concerns from neighbours.
Former chairman of Raith Rovers Alex Penman is now suing Caira for defamation of character and loss of earnings, injury and damages to the total of £75,000.
He cited a comment she made on social media and the 70-year-old’s lawyers served Caira with court papers last Friday afternoon. She must now attend court on July 26.
Caira told the Daily Record the comments appeared underneath a post she had shared about the house drama.
Aesthetics practitioner Caira added: “I wasn’t the one to say it, I just happened to agree. So many people have said the same thing on different
Facebook pages and none of them are getting sued.
“They are only taking me to court to try to get me to back down, but I refuse to.
“I found out he was suing me when I was at my friend’s wedding. I ended up in bed at 9pm with a migraine.
“The whole situation is making me unwell. I’ve already dropped two stone.”
Caira and husband Mario first objected to the planning application for these properties in 2020, however they were given the go-ahead last year.
After building started in May, she said she measured the space between the two properties and there is just two metres between her roof and the new property, with a wall blocking light to two of her windows.
She said: “It’s an eyesore and all we can see when we look out of our windows. When I complained about it the builder suggested I put up a high wall to hide the property.
“My kids would feel like they were living in a prison with a 10ft wall surrounding them.”
Niki has lived there with her kids, husband Mario and mum Mhairi for the last 16 years.
She described it as their “wee sanctuary” but says she now fears they will be forced out.
Robert F MacDonald Solicitors, on behalf of KJJ builders and Alex Penman, said: “Mr Penman has raised proceedings for defamation against Mrs Caira because of untrue and defamatory allegations made about him on her Facebook page last week.”
Fife Council Service manager Alastair Hamilton confirmed that the building has been built to comply with the approved planning permissions.